Bengal Subah (1576–1717) Bengal State (1717–1793)
1576–1793
Flag of Nawab of Bengal after 1717 Coat of arms
Map of the Bengal Subah in 1733 under theNawabs of Bengal
Status	Subah/Province of theMughal Empire De factoIndependent state(1717–1757)[1] Britishpuppet state(1757–1793)
Capital	Tanda (1576–1590)[2] Akbarnagar (1595–96; 1639–1660)[3] Jahangirnagar (1608–39; 1660–1711)[4] Murshidabad (1711–1763; 1765–1793) Munger (1763–1765)
Common languages	Persian(official) Bengali(official) Arabic(religious)
Religion	Shia Islam(dynastic)[5][6] Sunni Islam(majority)[7][8] Hinduism and otherIndian religions(minority)
Government	Viceroyalty(1576–1717) Absolute monarchy(1717–1757) Oligarchy with restricted monarchialfigurehead(1757–1793)
Subahdars/Nawab Nazims (see below)
Historical era	Early modern period
• Battle of Raj Mahal	12 July 1576
• Baro Bhuiyan revolt	1571–1611
• Establishment of Jahangirnagar	1608
• Self-governance	1717
• Maratha invasions	April 1741–March 1751
• Afghan mutinies	1745–1748
• Battle of Plassey	23 June 1757
• Battle of Buxar	22–23 October 1764
• Treaty of Allahabad	16 August 1765
• Grant of administration and judiciary to Company	1793
Area
1600[11]	233,930[9] km2 (90,320 sq mi)
c. 1781	386,470[10] km2 (149,220 sq mi)
Population
• 1600[11]	12,919,000 (7th)
• 1700[12]	15,789,000 (5th)
• 1769[a][13]	30,000,000
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Total	1600: $11.52 billion (7th)[14] 1700: $14.08 billion (9th)[15]
Currency	Taka
Preceded by Succeeded by 1576: Bengal Sultanate 1610: Baro Bhuiyan 1666: Portuguese Chittagong Kingdom of Mrauk U 1717: Mughal Empire Bengal Presidency
Today part of	Bangladesh India Myanmar
^Prior to theGreat Bengal famine of 1770

Part ofa series on the
History ofBengal
Ancient kingdoms Pundravardhana Vanga Suhma Rarha Samatata Anga Harikela Pragjyotisha
Classical dynasties Gangaridai Bhulua Nandas Mauryans Shungas Guptas Varmanas Gaudas Kamarupa Jaintia Gour Laur Mallabhum Bhadras Khadgas Palas Kamboja Palas Senas Chandras Devas Pratapgarh Taraf
Medieval Bengal Delhi Sultanate Khalji dynasty Mamluk dynasty Tughlaq dynasty House of Balban City states: Sonargaon Lakhnauti Satgaon Bengal Sultanate: Ilyas Shahi dynasty House of Ganesha Hussain Shahi dynasty Karrani dynasty Sur Empire Twelve Bhuyan Confederacy Kingdom of Mrauk U Jaintia Kingdom Pratapgarh Kingdom Koch dynasty Kingdom of Tripura Kingdom of Bhurshut Mughal Empire: Bengal Subah Burdwan Raj Rajshahi Raj Nadia Raj Bettiah Raj Nawabs of Bengal Zamindars Maratha expeditions in Bengal
Colonial Bengal Portuguese Chittagong Dutch Bengal French Bengal Danish Bengal Austrian Bengal British Bengal Battle of Plassey Bengal famine of 1770 Santal Revolt Chuar rebellion Indian Mutiny of 1857 Bihar famine of 1873–74 Partition of Bengal (1905) Eastern Bengal and Assam Bengali Renaissance Bengal famine of 1943 Direct Action Day Radcliffe Line Partition of Bengal (1947)
Post-partition era East Bengal/East Pakistan (1947–1971) East Bengali refugees History of East Pakistan 1964 East Pakistan riots Bengali language movement Bangladesh Liberation War
Modern period West Bengal 1947–present Bangladesh 1971–present
Related Architecture of Bengal History of Bengali literature Bangamata History of the taka Muslin trade in Bengal List of governors of Bengal Presidency Prime Minister of Bengal Maritime history of Bengal
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Etymology Timeline Traditional Urheimat
Ancient Neolithic 7600 - 3300 BCE Bronze Age 3300 – 1200 BCE     Pundra kingdom c.1280 – c. 300 BCE Iron Age 1200 – 200 BCE Vanga kingdom c.1100 – c. 340 BCE     House of Vijaya 543 BCE - 66 CE Northern Culture 700 – 200 BCE Gangaridai c. 350 – c. 300 BCE Nanda Dynasty c. 345 BCE– c. 322 BCE Mauryan Empire 325 – 185 BCE Samatata kingdom c. 232 BCE – 800 AD Shunga andKushan c. 185 BCE – c. 75 CE Southwestern Silk Road c. 114 BCE – c. 1450 CE Indo-Roman trade relations c. 30 BCE – c. 600 CE Gupta Empire 240 – 550 CE Kamarupa kingdom 350 – 1140 CE
Medieval Jaintia Kingdom 500 – 1835 CE Gauda Kingdom 590 – 626 CE Laur kingdom 600 - 1565 CE Harikela kingdom 600 - 650 CE Gour Kingdom 600 – 1303 CE Khadga dynasty 650 – 750 CE Bhadra dynasty c. 700s CE Pala Empire 750 – 1100 CE Chandra dynasty 900 – 1050 CE Sena dynasty 1070 – 1320 CE Deva dynasty 1100 – 1250 CE Muslim conquest 1202 CE Khaljis of Bengal 1204 - 1231 CE Taraf Kingdom c. 1200s – c. 1600s CE Bhulua Kingdom 1203 – 1600s CE Delhi Sultanate 1204 – 1338 CE     Mamluk Dynasty 1206 – 1290 CE     Khalji Dynasty 1290 – 1320 CE     Tugluq Dynasty 1320 – 1338,1342 CE City State Sultanates     Sonargaon 1338 – 1352 CE     Lakhnauti/Gauda 1342 – 1352 CE     Satagon/Saptagram 1342 – 1352 CE Twipra Kingdom c. 1400 – 1949 CE Bengal Sultanate 1352 – 1576 CE     Ilyas Shahi dynasty 1342 – 1487 CE     House of Ganesha 1414 – 1436 CE     Habshi dynasty 1487 – 1494 CE     Hussein Shahi 1494 – 1538 CE     Suri Interruption 1539 – 1554 CE     Muhammad Shahi 1554 – 1564 CE     Karrani dynasty 1564 – 1576 CE Pratapgarh Kingdom 1489 – 1700s CE
Early Modern Koch Kingdom 1515 – 1956 CE Suri Dynasty 1540 – 1556 CE Baro-Bhuyans 1550 – 1620 CE Portuguese settlement in Chittagong 1528 – 1666 CE Kingdom of Mrauk U 1530 – 1666 CE Mughal Empire 1576 – 1717 CE     Bengal Subah 1576 – 1717 CE     Rajshahi Raj c. 1700s - 1950 CE     Zamindars 1700s - 1900s CE Pratapaditya Kingdom 1602 – 1611 CE Sitaram Ray Kingdom 1688 – 1714 CE Nawabs of Bengal 1717 – 1757 CE     Maratha Invasions 1742 - 1751 CE     Afghan insurrections 1745 - 1750 CE     Siege of Calcutta 1756 CE Shamsher Gazi's Kingdom 1748 – 1760 CE Company Raj 1757 – 1858 CE     Bengal famine of 1770 1770 CE     Bengal Renaissance 1772 - 1913 CE     Faraizi movement 1818 – 1884 CE     The Great Rebellion 1857 – 1858 CE Tariqah-i-Muhammadiya 1830 – 1831 CE     Titumir's rebellion 1830s CE British Raj 1858 – 1947 CE     First Partition of Bengal 1905 CE     Bengal and Assam 1905 - 1912 CE     Bengal famine of 1943 1943 CE     Bengali Prime Minister 1937 - 1947 CE     Noakhali riots 1946 CE
Modern East Bengal 1947 – 1955 CE     Second Partition of Bengal 1947 CE     East Bengali refugees 1947 CE     Bengali language movement 1948 – 1956 CE East Pakistan 1955 – 1971 CE     1964 East Pakistan riots 1964 CE     Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 1965 CE     Six Point movement 1966 CE     1969 Mass uprising 1969 CE     General election 1970 CE     Non-cooperation 1971 CE Liberation War 1971 CE     Declaration of Independence 1971 CE     Provisional Government 1971 – 1972 CE     Bangladesh genocide 1971 CE     Surrender of Pakistan 1971 CE
Contemporary Constituent Assembly 1972 CE Constitution 1972 CE Insurgency 1972 – 1975 CE Bangladesh famine 1974 CE BaKSAL era 1975 CE Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman 1975 CE Jail Killing 1975 CE Military coups 1975 - 2011 CE Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict 1977 - 1997 CE 1990 mass uprising 1990 CE Caretaker government 1996 CE Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord 1997 CE 2006–08 Political crisis 2006–2008 CE Hasina era 2009–2024 CE Vision 2021 and Digital Bangladesh 2008 CE Bangladesh Rifles revolt 2009 CE International Crimes Tribunal 2009 CE Shahbag protests 2013 CE Shapla Square protests 2013 CE 2013 Quota reform movement 2013 CE 2015 Political crisis 2015 CE 2018 Road-safety protests 2018 CE 2018 Quota reform movement 2018 CE Smart Bangladesh 2022 CE July Revolution 2024 CE Aftermath of the July Revolution 2024 – present CE
Related articles Timeline of Bangladeshi history Bangladeshi art Bengali literature
Bangladesh portal
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Part ofa series on the
History ofIndia
Timeline
Prehistoric Paleolithic Masol c. 2.6 Ma Riwat c. 2.5 Ma Madrasian culture c. 1.5 Ma Soanian c. 500,000 BCE Neolithic, c. 7600 – c. 1000 BCE Bhirrana 7570 – 6200 BCE Jhusi 7106 BCE Lahuradewa 7000 BCE Koldihwa 7000 BCE Mehrgarh 7000 – 2600 BCE South Indian Neolithic 3000 – 1000 BCE
Ancient Indus Valley Civilization, c. 3300 – c. 1700 BCE Post Indus Valley Period (Cemetery H Culture), c. 1700 – c. 1500 BCE Vedic civilization, c. 1500 – c. 500 BCE Kuru kingdom, c. 1200 – c. 500 BCE Early Vedic period Rise of Śramaṇa movement Later Vedic Period Spread of Jainism – Parshvanatha Spread of Jainism – Mahavira Rise of Buddhism Kingdom of Magadha Brihadratha Dynasty 1700 – 682 BCE Haryanka Dynasty 544 – 413 BCE Shaishunaga Dynasty 413 – 345 BCE Nanda Dynasty, 345 – 322 BCE Mahajanapadas, c. 600 – 345 BCE
Classical Magadhan Empire Maurya Dynasty, 322 – 185 BCE Shunga Dynasty, 185 – 73 BCE Kanva Dynasty, 73 – 28 BCE Sangam period 300 BCE – 400 CE Kushan Dynasty, c. 30 – c. 375 CE Satavahana Dynasty, c. 228 BCE – c. 224 CE Gupta Dynasty, c. 240 – c. 550 CE
Early medieval Pallava dynasty, 275 CE - 897 CE Chalukya Dynasty, 543 – 753 CE Pandya Dynasty, 590 CE - 920 CE Harsha's Dynasty, c. 606 CE – c. 647 CE Karakota Dynasty, c. 724 – c. 760 CE Arab Invasion, c. 738 CE Tripartite Struggle, c. 760 – c. 973 CE Pratihara dynasty Rastrakuta Dynasty Pala Dynasty Chola Dynasty, c. 848 – c. 1251 CE 2nd Chalukya Dynasty, c. 973 – c. 1187 CE
Late medieval Delhi Sultanate, 1206 – 1526 CE Mamluk Dynasty Khalji Dynasty Tugluq Dynasty Sayyid Dynasty Lodhi Dynasty Pandyan Empire, 1251 – 1618 CE Vijayanagara, 1336 – 1646 CE Bengal Sultanate, 1342 – 1576 CE
Early modern Mughal Dynasty, 1526 – 1540 CE Suri Dynasty, 1538/40 – 1556 CE Mughal Dynasty, 1556 – 1857 CE Bengal Subah, c. 1576 – c. 1717 CE Maratha Empire, c. 1674 – c. 1818 CE Company Raj, c. 1757 – c. 1858 CE Kingdom of Mysore, c. 1760 – c. 1799 CE Sikh Empire, c. 1799 – c. 1849 CE
Modern The Great Rebellion, 1857 – 1858 CE British Raj, 1858 – 1947 CE Independence Movement Independent India, 1947 CE – present Dominion of India, 1947 – 1950 CE Republic of India, 1950 CE – present
Related articles Timeline of Indian History Dynasties in Indian History Economic History Demographic History Linguistic History Architectural History Art History LGBT history Literary History Philosophical History History of Religion Musical History Education History Coinage History Paper Currency History Science and Technology History List of Inventions and Discoveries Military History Naval History Wars involving India
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TheBengal Subah (Bengali: সুবাহ বাংলা,Persian:صوبه بنگاله), also referred to asMughal Bengal andBengal State (after 1717), was the largestsubdivision of TheMughal Empire encompassing much of theBengal region, which includes modern-dayBangladesh, the Indian state ofWest Bengal, and some parts of the present-day Indian states ofBihar (from 1733),Jharkhand andOdisha between the 16th and 18th centuries. The province was established following the dissolution of theBengal Sultanate, a major trading nation in the world, when the region was absorbed into the Mughal Empire. Bengal was the wealthiest region in the Indian subcontinent.

The Bengal Subah has been variously described the "Paradise of Nations"^[16] and the "Golden Age of Bengal".^[17] It alone accounted for 40% ofDutch imports from Asia.^[18] The eastern part of Bengal was globally prominent in industries such astextile manufacturing andshipbuilding,^[19] and it was a major exporter of silk and cotton textiles, steel,saltpeter, and agricultural and industrial produce in the world.^[20] The region was also the basis of the Anglo-Bengal War.^[21]

By the 18th century, Bengal emerged as a de-facto independent state,^[22][23] under the rule of theNawabs of Bengal, who acted on Mughal sovereignty. It started to undergoproto-industrialization, making significant contributions to the firstIndustrial Revolution,^{[24][25][26][27]} especiallyindustrial textile manufacturing. In 1757 and 1764, the BritishEast India Company defeated theNawab of Bengal at theBattle of Plassey and theBattle of Buxar, and Bengal came under British influence. It was deindustrialized^{[24][25][26][20]} after being conquered by the Company. In 1765, EmperorShah Alam II granted the office of the Diwani of Bengal (second-highest office in a province, included revenue rights) to the Company and the office of the Nizamat of Bengal (highest office, administrative and judicial rights) in 1793.^[28] TheNawab of Bengal, who previously possessed both these offices, was now formally powerless and became a titular monarch.

Professor Richard Eaton suggests Bengal became a terminus of a continent-wide process of Turko-Mongol conquest and migration because its physical features gave it such a fertile soil, and a favorable climate.^[29]

The Mughal absorption of Bengal began during the reign of the first Mughal emperorBabur. In 1529, Babur defeated SultanNasiruddin Nasrat Shah of theBengal Sultanate during theBattle of Ghaghra. Babur later annexed parts of Bengal. His son and successorHumayun occupied the Bengali capitalGaur, where he stayed for six months.^[30] Humayun was later forced to seek in refuge in Persia because ofSher Shah Suri's conquests. Sher Shah Suri briefly interrupted the reigns of both the Mughals and the Bengal Sultans.

The Mughal conquest of Bengal began with the victory of Akbar's army over Sultan of BengalDaud Khan Karrani, the independent ruler of the province, at theBattle of Tukaroi on 3 March 1575. After the final defeat of Daud Karrani at theBattle of Rajmahal the following year,^[31] Mughal Emperor Akbar announced the creation of Bengal as one of the original twelveSubahs (top-level provinces), borderingBihar Subah and Orissa subah, as well asBurma.^{[citation needed]} It took many years to overcome the resistance of ambitious and local chiefs. By a royal decree in November 1586, Akbar introduced uniformsubah administration throughout the empire. However, in historianTapan Raychaudhuri's view, "the consolidation of Mughal power in Bengal and the pacification of the province really began in 1594".^[32]

Many of the chiefs subjugated by the Mughals, some of theBaro-Bhuyans in particular, were upstarts who grabbed territories during the transition from Afghan to Mughal rule, but others, such as the Rajas of Chandradwip, Malla, and Shushang, were older families who had ruled independently from time immemorial.^[33] By the 17th century, the Mughals subdued opposition from the Baro-Bhuyans landlords, notablyIsa Khan. Bengal was integrated into a powerful and prosperous empire; and shaped by imperial policies ofpluralistic government. The Mughals built a new imperial metropolis inDhaka from 1610, with well-developed fortifications, gardens, tombs, palaces and mosques. It served as the Mughal capital of Bengal for 75 years.^[34] The city was renamed in honour ofEmperor Jahangir.

The Mughal conquest ofChittagong in 1666 defeated the (Burmese)Kingdom of Arakan and reestablished Bengali control of the port city, which was renamed as Islamabad.^[35] TheChittagong Hill Tracts frontier region was made atributary state of Mughal Bengal and a treaty was signed with theChakma Circle in 1713.^[36]

Between 1576 and 1717, Bengal was ruled by a MughalSubahdar (imperial governor). Members of theimperial family were often appointed to the position. Viceroy PrinceShah Shuja was the son of EmperorShah Jahan. During the struggle for succession with his brothers PrinceAurangazeb, PrinceDara Shikoh and PrinceMurad Baksh, Prince Shuja proclaimed himself as the Mughal Emperor in Bengal. He was eventually defeated by the armies of Aurangazeb. Shuja fled to the Kingdom of Arakan, where he and his family were killed on the orders of the King atMrauk U.Shaista Khan was an influential viceroy during the reign of Aurangazeb. He consolidated Mughal control of eastern Bengal. PrinceMuhammad Azam Shah, who served as one of Bengal's viceroys, was installed on the Mughal throne for four months in 1707. ViceroyIbrahim Khan II gave permits to English and French traders for commercial activities in Bengal. The last viceroy PrinceAzim-us-Shan gave permits for the establishment of theBritish East India Company'sFort William in Calcutta, theFrench East India Company's Fort Orleans inChandernagore and theDutch East India Company's fort inChinsura. During Azim-us-Shan's tenure, his prime ministerMurshid Quli Khan emerged as a powerful figure in Bengal. Khan gained control of imperial finances. Azim-us-Shan was transferred to Bihar. In 1717, the Mughal Court upgraded the prime minister's position to the hereditaryNawab of Bengal. Khan founded a new capital inMurshidabad. His descendants formed the Nasiri dynasty.Alivardi Khan founded a new dynasty in 1740. The Nawabs ruled over a territory which included Bengal proper,Bihar andOrissa.

The Nawab of Bengal^{[37][38][39][40]} was the hereditary ruler of Bengal Subah inMughal India. TheNawab of a princely state or autonomous province is comparable to the European title ofGrand Duke. In the early 18th-century, the Nawab of Bengal was thede facto independent ruler of some part ofBengal and other parts were ruled by Bengal Rajas such asBardhaman Raj,Cooch Behar State which constitute the modern-day sovereign country ofBangladesh and theIndian states ofWest Bengal.^[41][42][43] They are often referred to as the Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.^[44] The nawabs were based in Murshidabad which was centrally located within Bengal. The nawabs continued to issue coins in the name of the Mughal Emperor. But for all practical purposes, the nawabs governed as independent monarchs.^{[citation needed]} Under the early nawabs, Bengal became the financial backbone of the Mughal court, contributing more than half the funds that flowed into the imperial treasury in Delhi.^[45]

The Nawabs of Bengal oversaw a period ofproto-industrialization. The Bengal-Bihar-Orissa triangle was a major production center for cotton muslin cloth, silk cloth, shipbuilding, gunpowder, saltpetre, and metalworks. Factories were set up in Murshidabad, Dhaka, Patna, Sonargaon, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Cossimbazar, Balasore, Pipeli, and Hugli among other cities, towns, and ports. The region became a base for theBritish East India Company, theFrench East India Company, theDanish East India Company, theAustrian East India Company, theOstend Company, and theDutch East India Company.

The British company eventually rivaled the authority of the Nawabs. In the aftermath of thesiege of Calcutta in 1756, in which the Nawab's forces overran the main British base, the East India Company dispatched a fleet led byRobert Clive who defeated the last independent NawabSiraj-ud-Daulah at theBattle of Plassey in 1757.Mir Jafar was installed as the puppet Nawab. His successorMir Qasim attempted in vain to dislodge the British. The defeat of Nawab Mir Qasim of Bengal, NawabShuja-ud-Daula ofOudh, and Mughal EmperorShah Alam II at theBattle of Buxar in 1764 paved the way for British expansion across India. The South IndianKingdom of Mysore led byTipu Sultan overtook the Nawab of Bengal as the subcontinent's wealthiest monarchy; but this was short-lived and ended with theAnglo-Mysore War. The British then turned their sights on defeating theMarathas andSikhs.

The Nawabs of Bengal entered into treaties with numerous European colonial powers, including joint-stock companies representingBritain,Austria,Denmark,France and theNetherlands.

The resurgent Maratha Empire launched raids against Bengal in the 18th century, which further added to the decline of the Nawabs of Bengal. The Bengal Subah was met by a series of face to face confrontations by the Maratha Empire including theFirst Battle of Katwa, theSecond Battle of Katwa, the Battle of Burdwan and theBattle of Rani Sarai where NawabAlivardi Khan defeated the Marathas and repelled their attacks.^[17][46] The Maratha raids lasted a decade from 1741 to early 1751.

The Marathas committed many atrocities across Bengal causing many to flee from West Bengal to East Bengal.^[47] 400,000 civilian Bengalis were massacred by theBargis (Maratha warriors) includingtextile weavers,silk winders, andmulberry cultivators^[48][49] causing widespread economic devastation for the proto-industrializing textile-based economy of Bengal.^{[24][25][26][27]} Many Bengalis were mutilated and contemporary accounts describe the scene of mass gang-rape against women.^[50] Alivardi Khan the Nawab of Bengal fearing even worse devastation and destruction agreed to pay Rs. 1.2 million of tribute annually as thechauth of Bengal and Bihar to the Marathas, and the Marathas agreed not to invade Bengal again.

The expeditions, led byRaghuji Bhonsle ofNagpur, also established de facto Maratha control overOrissa, which was formally incorporated in the Maratha Empire in 1752.^[51][52] The Nawab of Bengal also paid Rs. 3.2 million to the Marathas, towards the arrears of chauth for the preceding years.^[53] The chauth was paid annually by the Nawab of Bengal to the Marathas up to 1758, until theBritish occupation of Bengal.^[54]

By the late-18th century, the British East India Company emerged as the foremost military power in the region, defeating the French-alliedSiraj-ud-Daulah at theBattle of Plassey in 1757, that was largely brought about by the betrayal of the Nawab's once trusted generalMir Jafar. The company gained administrative control over the Nawab's dominions, including Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. It gained the right to collect taxes on behalf of the Mughal Court after theBattle of Buxar in 1765. Bengal, Bihar and Orissa were made part of theBengal Presidency and annexed into theBritish colonial empire in 1793. TheIndian mutiny of 1857 formally ended the authority of the British East India Company, when theBritish Raj replacedCompany rule in India.

Other European powers also carved out small colonies on the territory of Bengal, including the Dutch East India Company'sDutch Bengal settlements, theFrench colonial settlement inChandernagore, theDanish colonial settlement inSerampore and theHabsburg monarchyOstend Company settlement inBankipur.

According toJoão de Barros, Bengal enjoyed military supremacy overArakan andTripura due to goodartillery.^[55] Its forces possessed notable largecannons. It was also a major exporter ofgunpowder andsaltpeter to Europe.^[56][57] TheMughal Army builtfortifications across the region, includingIdrakpur Fort,Sonakanda Fort,Hajiganj Fort,Lalbagh Fort andJangalbari Fort. The Mughals expelled Arakanese and Portuguesepirates from the northeastern coastline of theBay of Bengal. Throughout the late medieval and early modern periods, Bengal was notable for its navy andshipbuilding. The following table covers a list of notable military engagements by Mughal Bengal:

Conflict	Bengal and allied forces	Opposition forces	Results
Battle of Tukaroi (1575)Location: NearMidnapore	Bengal	Bengal Sultanate	Victory Treaty of Katak
Battle of Raj Mahal (1576)Location: Raj Mahal	Bengal	Bengal Sultanate	Victory Defeat of the Karranis
Conquest ofBhati (1576–1611)Location: Bhati,Bengal	Bengal	Baro-Bhuyan	Victory Eventual incorporation of theBhati (region) into the Bengal Subah
Siege of Hooghly (1632)Location:Hooghly,Bengal	Bengal	Portuguese Empire	Victory Defeat of the Portuguese
Skirmish at Pipli (1640) Location:Pipli,Bengal	Bengal	Denmark-Norway Danish India	Victory Danish trade station was taken and burnt to the ground.[58]
1st Bay of Bengal (Loss of the St. Jacob) 1640 Location:Bay of Bengal	Bengal	Denmark-Norway Danish India	Victory Destruction and seizure of a Danish merchant ship[59]
2nd Bay of Bengal (Capture of the ship The Bengali Prize) 1642 Location:Bay of Bengal (Declaration and beginning ofDano-Bengal/Mughal War)	Bengal	Denmark-Norway Danish India	Defeat Seizure of theDen Bengalske Prise (The Bengali Prize)[60]
1st Balasore (Expulsion of Danes from Balasore) (1643/1644) Location:Balasore (Bengal Subah)	Bengal	Denmark-Norway Danish India	Victory Danish factory at Balasore abandoned[61]
3rd Bay of Bengal (Valby Expedition of January 1644) 1644 Location:Bay of Bengal	Bengal	Denmark-Norway Danish India	Defeat
4th Bay of Bengal (Capture of theSt. Michael) 1644 Location:Bay of Bengal	Bengal	Denmark-Norway Danish India	Defeat Capture of Bengali vessel and renamed as St.Michael
2nd Pipli (Danish rescue mission to Pipli) (Mid 1640s) Location:Pipli,Bengal	Bengal Dutch East India Company	Denmark-Norway Danish India	Defeat Danish comrades set free[62]
2nd Balasore (Battle of Balasore) (1647) Location:Balasore (Bengal Subah)	Bengal	Denmark-Norway Danish India ----------------------------  United KingdomBritish East India Company (Supported byDutch East India Company)	Inconclusive Danes seized one of theMoorish ships with eight elephants at the harbour English tried to convince the Danes Bengalis seized 3-4 English boats and 6-8 smaller vessels in the river English rescued by Dutch
Conquest of Chittagong (1665–1666) Location:Chittagong	Bengal Dutch East India Company Portuguese Empire	Arakan	Victory Re-annexation ofChittagong into Bengal.
Hoogly (Attack in Hooghly) (1671) Location:Hugli-Chuchura,Bengal	Bengal	Denmark-Norway Danish India	Defeat Danes succeeded in blowing up the Bengali ships
Invasion of Assam (1662) Location:Assam	Bengal	Ahom kingdom	Victory Ahom Capital,Garhgaon is taken over.
Attack at Simalugarh (c. 1662 CE) Location: Assam	Bengal	Ahom kingdom	Victory[63] The Ahoms had to flee.
Dano-Mughal Treaty (1698) (End of theDano-Bengal/Mughal War)	Bengal	Denmark-Norway Danish India	Stalemate Peace treaty signed ending the 56-year-longDano-Mughal War.

• 
  Daud Khan receives a robe fromMunim Khan
• 
  Bibi Mariam Cannon
• 
  Jahan Kosha Cannon
• 
  Battle of Chittagong in 1666 between the Mughals and Arakanese

Mughal architecture proliferated Bengal in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, with the earliest example being the Kherua Mosque in Bogra (1582).^[46] They replaced the earlier sultanate-style of architecture. It was in Dhaka that the imperial style was most lavishly indulged in.^{[citation needed]} ItsLalbagh Fort was an elaborately designed complex of gardens,fountains, a mosque, a tomb, an audience hall (Diwan-i-Khas) and a walled enclosure with gates. TheGreat Caravanserai andShaista Khan Caravanserai in Dhaka were centres of commercial activities. Other monuments in the city include theDhanmondi Shahi Eidgah (1640), theSat Gambuj Mosque (c. 1664–76), theShahbaz Khan Mosque (1679) and theKhan Mohammad Mridha Mosque (1704).^[46] The city ofMurshidabad also became a haven of Mughal architecture under theNawabs of Bengal, with theCaravanserai Mosque (1723) being its most prominent monument.

In rural hinterlands, the Bengali Islamic style continued to flourish, blended with Mughal elements. One of the finest examples of this style is the Atiya Mosque in Tangail (1609).^[46] Several masterpieces of terracotta Hindu temple architecture were also created during this period. Notable examples include theKantajew Temple (1704) and thetemples of Bishnupur (1600–1729).

An authentic Bengali art was reflected in themuslin fabric ofJamdani (meaning "flower" inPersian). The making of Jamdani was pioneered by Persian weavers. The art passed to the hands of Bengali Muslim weavers known asjuhulas. The artisan industry was historically based around the city of Dhaka. The city had over 80,000 weavers. Jamdanis traditionally employ geometric designs in floral shapes. Its motifs are often similar to those in Iranian textile art (buta motif) and Western textile art (paisley). Dhaka's jamdanis enjoyed a loyal following and received imperial patronage from the Mughal court in Delhi and the Nawabs of Bengal.^[66][20]

A provincial Bengali style ofMughal painting flourished in Murshidabad during the 18th century. Scroll painting and ivory sculptures were also prevalent.

• 
  Jamdanimuslin is a legacy of Mughal Bengal
• 
  Murshidabad-style painting of a woman playing arudra veena
• 
  Scroll painting of aGhazi riding a Bengal tiger

Bengal's population is estimated to have been 30 million prior to theGreat Bengal famine of 1770, which reduced it by as much as a third.^[13]

Bengal was an affluent province withIslam as the official religion.Muslims constituted a significant minority of the population, while the majority wasHindu.^[24]

There was a significant influx of migrants from theSafavid Empire into Bengal during the Mughal period.Persian administrators and military commanders were enlisted by the Mughal government in Bengal.^[67] AnArmenian community settled in Dhaka and was involved in the city's textile trade, paying a 3.5% tax.^[68]

The Bengal Subah had the largest regional economy in that period. It was described as theparadise of nations.^{[citation needed]} The region exported grains, fine cottonmuslin and silk, liquors and wines, salt, ornaments, fruits, and metals.^[70] European companies set up numerous trading posts in Bengal during the 17th and 18th centuries. Dhaka was the largest city in Bengal and the commercial capital of the empire.^{[citation needed]} Chittagong was the largest seaport, with maritimetrade routes connecting it toArakan,Ayuthya,Aceh,Melaka,Johore,Bantam,Makassar,Ceylon,Bandar Abbas,Mocha and theMaldives.^[71]

Parthasarathi estimates that grain wages for weaving and spinning in Bengal and Britain were comparable in the mid 18th century.^[72] However, due to the scarcity of data, more research is needed before drawing any conclusions.^[73]

Bengal had many traders and bankers. Among them was theJagat Seth Family, who were the wealthiest bankers in the region.

The Mughals launched a vast economic development project in theBengal delta which transformed its demographic makeup.^[74] The government cleared vast swathes of forest in the fertileBhati region to expand farmland. It encouraged settlers, including farmers andjagirdars, to populate the delta. It assignedSufis as the chieftains of villages.Emperor Akbar re-adapted the modernBengali calendar to improve harvests and tax collection. The region became the largest grain producer in the subcontinent.

There are sparse accounts of the Bengal revenue administration in Abul Fazl'sAin-i-Akbari and some in Mirza Nathan'sBaharistan-i-Ghaibi.^[75] According to the former,

The demands of each year are paid by instalments in eight months, they (the ryots) themselves bringingmohurs and rupees to the appointed place for the receipt of revenue, as the division of grain between the government and the husbandman is not here customary. The harvests are always abundant, measurement is not insisted upon, and the revenue demands are determined by estimate of the crop.^[75]

In contrast, theBaharistan says there were two collections per year, following the spring and autumn harvests. It also says that, at least in some areas, revenue demands were based on survey and land measurement.^[75]

Bengali peasants were quick to adapt to profitable new crops between 1600 and 1650.Bengali peasants rapidly learned techniques ofmulberry cultivation andsericulture, establishing Bengal Subah as a major silk-producing region of the world.^[76]

The increased agricultural productivity led to lowerfood prices. In turn, this benefited the Indiantextile industry. Compared to Britain, the price of grain was about one-half in South India and one-third in Bengal, in terms of silver coinage. This resulted in lower silver coin prices for Indian textiles, giving them a price advantage in global markets.^[77]

In the 17th century, Bengal was an affluent province that was, according to economic historian Indrajit Ray, globally prominent in industries such astextile manufacturing andshipbuilding.^[19] Bengal's capital city of Dhaka was the empire's financial capital, with a population exceeding a million people, and with an estimated 80,000 skilled textile weavers. It was an exporter of silk and cotton textiles, steel,saltpeter, and agricultural and industrial produce.^[20] Bengal's mining, metallurgy, and shipping in this era have been described asproto-industrialization.^[78]

Many historians have built on the perspective ofR. C. Dutt who wrote, "The plunder of Bengal directly contributed to theIndustrial Revolution in Britain."^{[24][25][26][27]} This analysis states that the capital amassed from Bengal was used to invest in British industries such astextile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution and greatly increase British wealth, while at the same time leading to deindustrialization in Bengal.^{[24][25][26][20]} According to Indrajit Ray, domestic industries expanded for decades even after Plassey. Although colonial-based price manipulation and state discrimination initiated from the 1790s, Bengal's industries retained some comparative advantages. Ray states that "Bengali entrepreneurs continued in industries such as cotton and silk textiles where there were domestic market supports", and major deindustrialisation occurred as late as the 1830s to 1850s.^[79]

Bengal was a centre of the worldwidemuslin,jute and silk trades. During this era, the most important center of jute and cotton production was Bengal, particularly around its capital city of Dhaka, leading to muslin being called "daka" in distant markets such as Central Asia.^[80] Domestically, much of India depended on Bengali products such as rice, silks and cotton textiles. Overseas, Europeans depended on Bengali products such as cotton textiles, silks and opium; Bengal accounted for 40% of Dutch imports from Asia, for example, including more than 50% of textiles and around 80% of silks.^[18] From Bengal, saltpetre was also shipped to Europe, opium was sold inIndonesia, raw silk was exported to Japan and the Netherlands, and cotton and silk textiles were exported to Europe, Indonesia and Japan.^[81] Thejute trade was also a significant factor.

Bengal had a large shipbuilding industry. Indrajit Ray estimates shipbuilding output of Bengal during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries at 223,250 tons annually, compared with 23,061 tons produced in nineteen colonies in North America from 1769 to 1771.^[82] He also assesses ship repairing as very advanced in Bengal.^[82]

An important innovation in shipbuilding was the introduction of aflushed deck design in Bengal rice ships, resulting inhulls that were stronger and less prone to leak than the structurally weak hulls of traditional European ships built with a steppeddeck design. The BritishEast India Company later duplicated the flushed deck and hull designs of Bengal rice ships in the 1760s, leading to significant improvements inseaworthiness and navigation for European ships during the Industrial Revolution.^[83]

In the revenue settlement byTodar Mal in 1582, Bengal Subah was divided into 24sarkars (districts), which included 19sarkars of Bengal proper and 5sarkars ofOrissa. In 1607, during the reign ofJahangir Orissa became a separateSubah. These 19sarkars were further divided into 682parganas.^[84] In 1658, subsequent to the revenue settlement byShah Shuja, 15 newsarkars and 361 newparganas were added. In 1722,Murshid Quli Khan divided the whole Subah into 13chakalahs, which were further divided into 1660parganas.^{[citation needed]}

Initially the capital of theSubah wasTanda.^{[citation needed]} On 9 November 1595, the foundations of a new capital were laid atRajmahal byMan Singh I who renamed it Akbarnagar.^[85] In 1610 the capital was shifted from Rajmahal to Dhaka^[86] and it was renamed Jahangirnagar. In 1639, Shah Shuja again shifted the capital to Rajmahal. In 1660,Muazzam Khan (Mir Jumla) again shifted the capital to Dhaka. In 1703, Murshid Quli Khan, thendiwan (prime minister in charge of finance) of Bengal shifted his office from Dhaka to Maqsudabad and later renamed itMurshidabad.^{[citation needed]}

In 1656, Shah Shuja reorganised the sarkars and added Orissa to the Bengal Subah.^{[citation needed]}

Thesarkars (districts) and theparganas/mahallahs (tehsils) of Bengal Subah were:^[84]

Sarkars of Orissa:

The state government was headed by aViceroy (SubedarNizam) appointed by theMughal Emperor between 1576 and 1717. The Viceroy exercised tremendous authority, with his own cabinet and four prime ministers (Diwan). The three deputy viceroys for Bengal proper, Bihar and Orissa were known as theNaib Nazims. An extensive landedaristocracy was established by the Mughals in Bengal. The aristocracy was responsible for taxation andrevenue collection. Land holders were bestowed with the title ofJagirdar. TheQadi title was reserved for the chief judge.Mansabdars were leaders of the Mughal Army, whilefaujdars were generals. The Mughals were credited for secular pluralism during the reign ofAkbar, who promoted the religious doctrine ofDin-i Ilahi. Later rulers promoted more conservative Islam.

In 1717, the Mughal government replaced ViceroyAzim-us-Shan due to conflicts with his influential deputy viceroy and prime ministerMurshid Quli Khan.^[87] Growing regional autonomy caused the Mughal Court to establish a hereditary principality in Bengal, with Khan being recognised in the official title of Nazim. He founded the Nasiri dynasty. In 1740, following theBattle of Giria,Alivardi Khan staged a coup and founded the short-lived Afsar dynasty. For all practical purposes, the Nazims acted as independent princes. European colonial powers referred to them asNawabs or Nababs.^[88]

Munim Khan (seated, right), the first Viceroy of Mughal Bengal (1574–1575)

Man Singh I, theRajput Viceroy of Bengal (1594–1606)

Shaista Khan, Viceroy (1664–1688)

ViceroyMuhammad Azam Shah (1678–1679), laterMughal Emperor

ViceroyAzim-us-Shan (1697–1712), laterMughal Emperor

Portrait	Regnal name	Personal name	Birth	Reign	Death
Nasiri dynasty
	Jaafar Khan Bahadur Nasiri	Murshid Quli Khan	1665	1717– 1727	30 June 1727
	Ala-ud-Din Haidar Jang	Sarfaraz Khan Bahadur Dakhni	1700	1727–1727	29 April 1740
	Shuja ud-Daula	Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan or Mirza Deccani	Around 1670 (date not available)	July 1727 – 26 August 1739	26 August 1739
	Ala-ud-Din Haidar Jang	Sarfaraz Khan Bahadur Dakhni	1700	13 March 1739 – April 1740	29 April 1740
Afsar dynasty
	Hashim ud-Daula	Muhammad Alivardi Khan Bahadur	Before 10 May 1671	29 April 1740 – 9 April 1756	9 April 1756
	Siraj ud-Daulah	Mirza Muhammad Siraj-ud-Daulah	1733	April 1756 – 2 June 1757	2 July 1757

• Irfan Habib (1999) [First published 1963].The Agrarian System of Mughal India, 1556–1707 (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.ISBN 978-0-19-807742-8.

• Bengal Subah
• Mughal subahs
• Nawabs of Bengal
• States and territories disestablished in 1793

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